Former for sheet-metal vessels



- (no Model.)

G. A. WILB-RAHAM.v

FORMER FOR SHEET METAL VESSELS- v No. 352,019. 7 Patented'Nov. 2, 1886@ I l 65 e Ell ---.7c

llllilllllllllll li I I III i 4 WITNESSES} V .INVIQI TTOR Z ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WILBRAHAM, OF POQUONOCK, CONNECTICUT.

FORMER FOR SHEET-METAL VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,019, dated November 2, 1 886.

Application filed August 25, 1886. Serial No. 2l1,830. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that 1, CHARLES A. WILBRA- HAM, of Poquonock, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented anew shaping sheet-metal vessels, and has for its ob- 1o ject to provide simple, inexpensive, and effective devices ofthis character, allowing the vessel-bodies to be bent orshapcd truly with economy of time and labor.

This invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the former, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is aplan view of my improved former, partly broken away and in section, and with a wired metal blank adjusted to and bent around the former. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 00 as in Fig. 1, and shows also a part of a work-bench, to which the former is held; and Figs. 3 and 4. are plan views illustrating the use of the former in making the final bends in the metal blank.

The bed-plate A of the former is provided with apendent lug or born, a, preferably made square or flat-sided, and which may be set into a recess or socket, b, of a workbench, B, to hold the bed-plate immovably to the bench. The bed A is preferably made heart-shaped or with a marginal depression at the front edge, as at a, to allow more convenient operation of a clamp-screw presently described.

To the upper face of the bed Athere is fixed a former-block, C, which may be attached by screws, as at c, or may be cast or otherwise formed in one piece with the bed-plate. The outer edge portion of the block shown describes a true circle for making half-circular bends of a metal blank around it, and the inner or front margin of the former-block is cut away to produce an edgewise depression, as at 0, thereby giving the block a heart or shield shape, as clearly shown in the drawings.

One or more endless metal bands, D, are bent flatwise to nearly the marginal shape of the former -block C, and are adapted to be set edgewise on the bed A, around the block C, and against each other, and as few'or many of these bands D may be used as the diameter or width of the finished sheet-metal vessel may require.

In the top of the bed-plate A is formed a groove, 6, in which is fitted to slide 'a clamp bar, E, the outer end, e, of which is upturned to serve as a jaw to clamp the blank against the former-block C or a band, D, thereon, and the other end, c of the bar E is also upturned, and in it is threaded a screw, F, preferably having a crank -handle, f, allowing it to be turned in against one of the bands D at the center of the depression of the former-block. The block C has a recess, 0 ranging parallel with the clamp-bar E and opening to it, and in this recess a lug or pin, 6 on the bar enters; and a spring, G, placed in the recess 0 and between its forward end and the clamp-bar lug 6 acts normally to force the clamp-j aw e away from the gage-bands D on the former-block when the screw F is turned outward.

In using the former,when one or more of the bands D are adjusted on the block C, a sheet or blank, H, of metal, when flat and wired at one edge and marked at the center, is placed between the clamp-jaw e and the outer band D, wired edge down, and with the center-mark at the center of the clamp-jaw. The screw F will then be tightened against the bands D, to draw the bands evenly to the block C and clamp the blank H firmly between the jaw e and the bands, and the blank may then be bent by the hands or otherwise around the bands and block C, to form one truly-curved end or bend, 1, of a finished vessel-a wash-boil er, for instance and the blank will then be released by turning the screw F the other way, and one of the ends of the. blank will next be clamped by the jaw e, and the blank will be turned to give a second bend, 2, to the blank, as shown in Fig. 3, and the other end of the blank will then be clamped by the jaw e and the blank turned to give it the third or final bend, 3, as shown in Fig. 4, and when the blank is released it will have the form of the body of 'the vessel, the bend 1 making one end of the vessel, and the bends 2 3 together making the other end of the vessel when soldered or otherwise joined. The

bands D may be applied or removed to gage the sizes of the boilers 0r vessels being formed.

It is obvious that the former would operate were the for1ner-block O and the bands D made round; but in this casethe bands would be liable to slip around on the former-block and rcnder the bending operation somewhat uncertain, While with the block cut away at the front and the bands bent into the recess the projections c c at each end of the recess prevent turning or slipping of the bands on the block and in sure correct bending of the sheet-metal blanks or vessel-bodies, with economy of time and labor as compared with bending the blanks by rolling or other processes.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a former for sheetmetal vessels, of a bed-plate, a former-block held thereto, one or more gage-bands fitting over said block and each other, and a clamp adapted to hold the blank to the band or bands prior to bending the blank, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a former ior sheetmetal vessels, of a bed-plate, a former-bloek held thereto and shaped at one part to the re quired bend of the blank, and formed marginally elsewhere to prevent turning of like-shaped bands placed around the block, and said bands and a clamp adapted to hold the blank to the block-bands prior to bending the blank, sub stantially as shown and described.

8. The combination, in a former for sheetmetal vessels, of a bed-plate, a former-block held thereto and shaped at one part of its margin to the required bend of the blank and lormed marginally elsewhere with a recess,and like-shaped band or bands placed on the block, and a clamp device adapted to hold the metal blank to the band and press on therccessed or inbent portion of the band to simultaneously draw the band or hands tightly around the block to insure a true bend of the blank, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, in a former for sheetinetal vessels, of a bed-plate, A, grooved at e, a clampbar, E, titted in said groove, a formerblock, 0, on bed A, and a screw, F, fitted in bar E, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, in a former for sheet- 1netal vessels, of a bed-plate, A, former-block 0, one or more gage-bands, D, clampbar E,

and screw F, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination, in a former for sheetmetal vessels, ofa bed-plate, A, former-block C, clamp-bar E, screw F, and a spring, G, substantiall y as shown and described.

CHARLES A. \VILBRAHAM.

\Vitnesses:

G. R. HATHEWAY, Jnrns J. MERWIN. 

